Africa Agro-Ecological Zones GIS Coverage

1984 data from the UNEP/FAO/ESRI Database project provides GIS coverage of agro-ecological zones across the African continent. The dataset was compiled by ESRI, FAO, and UNEP using base maps including the UNESCO/FAO Soil Map of the World and Global Navigation and Planning Charts. It is structured as three vector polygon coverages representing the north-west, north-east, and southern regions of Africa.

Use Cases

• Analyze soil and climate suitability for specific crops using the agro-ecological zone polygon classifications.
• Model regional agricultural potential and population carrying capacity based on the zone attributes.
• Assess land use change over time by comparing these 1984 baseline zones with contemporary land cover data.
• Plan conservation and development projects by overlaying zone data with administrative boundaries.

Strengths

• Continent-wide coverage of Africa split into three regional GIS files.
• Derived from authoritative sources including the 1:5,000,000 scale UNESCO/FAO Soil Map of the World.
• Vector polygon format allows for detailed spatial analysis and overlay operations.

Limitations

• Data is from 1984 and may not reflect current soil or land conditions.
• Specific column names and attribute details for the polygon features are not provided.
• Original files are in the legacy Arc/Info Export (.E00) format requiring specialized tools for import.

Provenance

Source

Compiled by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Collection Method

Digitized from paper maps at 0.002-inch resolution, transformed to latitude/longitude degrees, and appended with country boundaries.

Time Range

Publication date is December 1984; source maps range from 1975 to 1982.

Geography

Covers the entire African continent (AEZBLL08: North-West, AEZBLL09: North-East, AEZBLL10: South).